Day: March 2, 2018

‘A well-reasoned judgment by Mr Justice Coulson could put an end to the trend of “smash and grab” adjudications, where the payee pursues the other party for the full amount where no valid payment or pay less notice is served.’

‘The Sentencing Council has published a new guideline for the sentencing of offenders convicted of the possession of a bladed article or offensive weapon, such as acid, in public, and of using one to threaten someone.’

‘The Equal Treatment Bench Book has been updated, expanded and improved. It aims to increase awareness and understanding of the different circumstances of people appearing in courts and tribunals. It helps enable effective communication and suggests steps which should increase participation by all parties.’

‘The law firm challenging a coroner’s policy of applying a “cab rank” rule for burials by refusing to prioritise them on religious grounds has welcomed what he describes as the chief coroner’s “support”.’

‘A woman who bludgeoned her husband to death with a hammer has won the latest round in an attempt to appeal against her conviction for murder. Georgina Challen attacked 61-year-old Richard Challen in August 2010 as he ate lunch at the kitchen table in their former home in Claygate, Surrey. In June 2011 a jury at Guildford crown court took 11 hours to find Challen, known as Sally, guilty of murdering the former car dealer. She was jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years, which was later reduced on appeal by four years. On Thursday, three court of appeal judges allowed Challen leave to appeal against the conviction.’

‘Theresa May has published a previously secret direction relating to MI5’s use of agents who participate in crime. The Prime Minister confirmed that the area of the Security Service’s work was kept under review by a watchdog.’

‘Unreleased files about the Battle of Orgreave from five police forces, including a contemporaneous report by a chief constable on the policing of the miner’s strike, have been uncovered by the Commons home affairs committee.’

‘The culture secretary, Matt Hancock, confirmed on Thursday that the government would drop plans for the second phase of the Leveson inquiry into press standards launched in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal.’